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It is of a thawing nature； it will loose the heart that is frozen up
in sin； yea； it will make the unwilling willing to come to Jesus
Christ for life。 Wherefore； do you think； was it that Jesus Christ
told the adulterous woman； and that before so many sinners； that he
had not condemned her； but to allure her； with them there present； to
hope to find favour at his hands？ （As he also saith in another
place； 〃I came not to judge； but to save the world。〃） For might they
not thence most rationally conclude； that if Jesus Christ had rather
save than damn an harlot； there was encouragement for them to come to
him for mercy。
I heard once a story from a soldier； who with his company had laid
siege against a fort； that so long as the besieged were persuaded
their foes would shew them no favour； they fought like madmen； but
when they saw one of their fellows taken； and received to favour；
they all came tumbling down from their fortress； and delivered
themselves into their enemies' hands。
I am persuaded； did men believe that there is that grace and
willingness in the heart of Christ to save sinners； as the word
imports there is； they would come tumbling into his arms： but Satan
has blinded their minds； that they cannot see this thing。 Howbeit；
the Lord Jesus has； as I said； that others might take heart and come
to him； given out a commandment； that mercy should in the first place
be offered to the biggest sinners。 〃Begin；〃 saith he； 〃at
Jerusalem。〃 And thus I end the third reason。
Fourthly； Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to
the biggest sinners； because that is the way； if they receive it；
most to weaken the kingdom of Satan； and to keep it lowest in every
age of the world。 The biggest sinners； they are Satan's colonels and
captains； the leaders of his people； and they that most stoutly make
head against the Son of God。 Wherefore let these first be conquered；
and his kingdom will be weak。 When Ishbosheth had lost his Abner；
his kingdom was made weak： nor did he sit but tottering then upon
his throne。 So when Satan loseth his strong men； them that are
mighty to work iniquity； and dexterous to manage others in the same；
then is his kingdom weak； 2 Sam。 iii。 Therefore； I say； Christ doth
offer mercy in the first place to such； the more to weaken his
kingdom。 Christ Jesus was glad to see Satan fall like lightning from
heaven； that is； suddenly or head long； and it was； surely； by
casting of him out of strong possessions； and by recovering of some
notorious sinners out of his clutches； Luke x。 17…19。
Samson； when he would pull down the Philistines temple； took hold of
the two main pillars of it； and breaking them； down came the house。
Christ came to destroy the works of the devil； and to destroy by
converting grace； as well as by redeeming blood。 Now sin swarms； and
lieth by legions； and whole armies； in the souls of the biggest
sinners； as in garrisons： wherefore the way； the most direct way to
destroy it； is first to deal with such sinners by the word of his
gospel； and by the merits of his passion。
For example； though I shall give you but a homely one： suppose a
family to be troubled with vermin； and one or two of the family to be
in chief the breeders； the way； the quickest way to clear that
family； or at least to weaken the so swarming of those vermin； is； in
the first place； to sweeten the skin； head； and clothes of the chief
breeders； and then； though all the family should be apt to breed
them； the number of them； and so the greatness of that plague there；
will be the more impaired。
Why； there are some people that are in chief the devil's sin…breeders
in the towns and places where they live。 The place； town； or family
where they live； must needs be horribly verminous； as it were； eaten
up with vermin。 Now； let the Lord Jesus； in the first place； cleanse
these great breeders； and there will be given a nip to those swarms
of sins that used to be committed in such places throughout the town；
house； or family； where such sin…breeding persons used to be。
I speak by experience： I was one of these verminous ones； one of
these great sin…breeders； I infected all the youth of the town where
I was born； with all manner of youthful vanities。 The neighbours
counted me so； my practice proved me so： wherefore Christ Jesus took
me first； and taking me first； the contagion was much allayed all the
town over。 When God made me sigh； they would hearken； and
enquiringly say； What is the matter with John？ They also gave their
various opinions of me： but； as I said； sin cooled； and failed； as
to his full career。 When I went out to seek the bread of life； some
of them would follow； and the rest be put into a muse at home。 Yea；
almost the town； at first； at times would go out to hear at the place
where I found good； yea； young and old for a while had some
reformation on them； also some of them； perceiving that God had mercy
upon me； came crying to him for mercy too。
But what need I give you an instance of poor I； I will come to
Manasseh the king。 So long as he was a ring…leading sinner； the
great idolater； the chief for devilism； the whole land flowed with
wickedness； for he 〃made them to sin；〃 and do worse than the heathen
that dwelt round about them； or that was cast out from before them：
but when God converted him； the whole land was reformed。 Down went
the groves； the idols； and altars of Baal； and up went true religion
in much of the power and purity of it。 You will say； The king
reformed by power。 I answer； doubtless； and by example too； for
people observe their leaders； as their fathers did； so did they； 2
Chron。 xxxiii。 2。
This； therefore； is another reason why Jesus would have mercy offered
in the first place to the biggest sinners； because that is the best
way； if they receive it； most to weaken the kingdom of Satan； and to
keep it poor and low。
And do you not think now； that if God would but take hold of the
hearts of some of the most notorious in your town； in your family； or
country； that this thing would be verified before your faces？ It
would； it would； to the joy of you that are godly； to the making of
hell to sigh； to the great suppressing of sin； the glory of Christ；
and the joy of the angels of God。 And ministers should； therefore；
that this work might go on； take advantages to persuade with the
biggest sinners to come into Christ； according to my text； and their
commissions； 〃Beginning at Jerusalem。〃
Fifthly； Jesus Christ would have mercy offered； in the first place；
to the biggest sinners； because such； when converted； are usually the
best helps in the church against temptations； and fittest for the
support of the feeble…minded there。 Hence； usually； you have some
such in the first plantation of churches； or quickly upon it。
Churches would do but sorrily； if Christ Jesus did not put such
converts among them： they are the monuments and mirrors of mercy。
The very sight of such a sinner in God's house； yea； the very thought
of him； where the sight of him cannot be had； is ofttimes greatly for
the help of the faith of the feeble。
〃When the churches （said Pa